I know a fix! Right click on the Sims 2 and click properties. Then go to the compatibility tab and check the box named 'compatibility mode' then set the drop down menu under it to Windows XP (service pack 3).
Did you try the steps in this vid for your CAS crashes?
Okay update: I don't have a graphics card, only the intel HD graphics that comes with my pc. It's an all in on with windows 8. Anyhoo I was finally able to run the game, create a sim (installed one of my custom skins that was saved from another pc) without crashing, moved her into a house and then saved the game and left her there and went to play with one of the precreated characters. I was paranoid it would crash so I kept saving it every five seconds. Was even able to go downtown, befriended the sim I created with "Darren" and the game still ran fine. It did crash once because I was fiddling with something, but when I went back in it was still working. I played for about an hour and then saved and closed because I had to run errands.
What I did was, according to the youtube video, changed compatibility to windows sp 3, changed the game to run in a window, run as admin (I had to select this if I wanted to run the game windowed). I am running sims2 deluxe. So far so good, praying it will stay that way. I'm guessing my next challenge will be testing out the ep's. I have all of them except apartments. I'll keep you updated! Thanks again for your help.
